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The Hailfire-class droid tank was a self-aware mobile missile platform capable of destroying enemy vehicles and entire platoons of enemy soldiers. It ran on large hoop-like wheels on either side of the main armored command module, which enabled it to operate on almost any terrain at impressive speed.[4]

The Hailfire-class was well equipped, with missile launchers fitted on each side of its head, each missile rack carrying 15 guided rocket warheads powerful enough to cause significant damage to enemy targets. A well-placed shot with one of these missiles was enough to destroy a RepublicAT-TEwalker,[7] and was effective against other armored units.[6] Each Hailfire-class droid tank also had a retractable double blaster for use against infantry and other "soft" targets.[3]

The Hailfire-class also had many different configurations that boasted various types of weapons. Some of the configurations included heavy blaster artillery, ion cannons, or anti-personnel stun weapon batteries. The wheels' inward design gave Hailfires a wider lateral range and the ability to crush tightly grouped soldiers and small vehicles.[9]

Hailfire-class droid tanks first appeared as part of the army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Battle of Geonosis, where they disabled or destroyed numerous AT-TEs and injured or killed countless clone troopers before being destroyed by LAAT/igunships. During the war, many Hailfire-class droids of various models and types continued to fight in battles against the Republic's army, and were used extensively during the first parts of the war.[4]

Due to the limited supply of 30 warheads for each unit, the Banking Clan retired the Hailfire from the battlefield for some time. The Clan came up with an answer to this problem, though: air-mobile refresh droids that could resupply the Hailfire-class droids with warheads were partnered with them on the battlefield, and once again, the Hailfire-class became the scourge of slow-moving vehicles.[6] During the Clone Wars, like many other vehicles, the Hailfire droid was re-painted in the Separatist color scheme.

In Attack of the Clones, Confederate rockets, including those of Hailfire-class droids, were keyed to leave black smoke in contrast to the white trails left by Republic missiles.

The design of the Hailfire droid was inspired by the real world Russian Tsar Tank. [1]
The design also is based on the Hwacha, a 16th century Korean rocket launcher developed to fight off the Han Chinese. [2]